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| Public Act 097-0570 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section | ||||
2-3.153 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.153 new) | ||||
Sec. 2-3.153. Textbook block grant program. | ||||
(a) The provisions of this Section are in the public | ||||
interest, for the public benefit, and serve secular public | ||||
purposes. | ||||
(b) As used in this Section, "textbook" means any book or | ||||
book substitute that a pupil uses as a text or text substitute, | ||||
including electronic textbooks. "Textbook" includes books, | ||||
reusable workbooks, manuals, whether bound or in loose-leaf | ||||
form, instructional computer software, and electronic | ||||
textbooks and the technological equipment necessary to gain | ||||
access to and use electronic textbooks intended as a principal | ||||
source of study material for a given class or group of | ||||
students. "Textbook" also includes science curriculum | ||||
materials in a kit format that includes pre-packaged consumable | ||||
materials if (i) it is shown that the materials serve as a | ||||
textbook substitute, (ii) the materials are for use by the | ||||
pupils as a principal learning source, (iii) each component of | ||||
the materials is integrally necessary to teach the requirements | ||
of the intended course, (iv) the kit includes teacher guidance | ||
materials, and (v) the purchase of individual consumable | ||
materials is not allowed. | ||
(c) Beginning July 1, 2011, subject to annual appropriation | ||
by the General Assembly, the State Board of Education is | ||
authorized to provide annual funding to public school districts | ||
and State-recognized, non-public schools serving students in | ||
grades kindergarten through 12 for the purchase of selected | ||
textbooks. The textbooks authorized to be purchased under this | ||
Section are limited without exception to textbooks that have | ||
been preapproved and designated by the State Board of Education | ||
for use in any public school and that are secular, | ||
non-religious, and non-sectarian. The State Board of Education | ||
shall annually publish a list of the textbooks authorized to be | ||
purchased under this Section. Each public school district and | ||
State-recognized, non-public school shall, subject to | ||
appropriations for that purpose, receive a per pupil grant for | ||
the purchase of secular textbooks. The per pupil grant amount | ||
must be calculated by the State Board of Education utilizing | ||
the total appropriation
made for these purposes divided by the | ||
most current student
enrollment data available. | ||
(d) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as | ||
necessary for the implementation of this Section and to ensure | ||
the religious neutrality of the textbook block grant program, | ||
as well as provide for the monitoring of all textbooks | ||
authorized in this Section to be purchased directly by | ||
State-recognized, nonpublic schools serving students in grades | ||
kindergarten through 12. | ||
(105 ILCS 5/18-17 rep.)
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(105 ILCS 5/28-6 rep.)
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(105 ILCS 5/28-10 rep.)
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(105 ILCS 5/28-12 rep.)
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(105 ILCS 5/28-16 rep.)
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(105 ILCS 5/28-17 rep.) | ||
Section 10. The School Code is amended by repealing | ||
Sections 18-17, 28-6, 28-10, 28-12, 28-16, and 28-17.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, | ||
2011.
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